Diesel loving Europe hasn’t embraced the hybrid car in a big way, not when modern oil burners are as frugal without the aid of batteries. So how about a plug-in diesel hybrid? Wouldn’t that be the ultimate in performance (in EV terms) and efficiency? Meet Volvo’s V60 diesel plug-in hybrid, a world’s first that will debut in Geneva.
The fruit of co-operation between Volvo Cars and Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall, this production-ready V60 combines the best qualities of electric and diesel power. It will hit the market in 2012. Headline figures include a fully electric range of up to 50 km, C02 emissions averaging at just 49 g/km (current small car benchmark is around 100 g/km) and a combined output of 215 + 70 horsepower, 440 + 200 Nm of torque and 0-100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds.
The front wheels of the V60 will be driven by a five-cylinder 2.4-litre D5 engine with 215 hp/440 Nm, while the rear axle features ERAD (Electric Rear Axle Drive, an electric motor) with 70 hp/200 Nm. ERAD is powered by a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The car features a six-speed automatic gearbox.
The plug-in hybrid can be charged via a regular household electricity socket at home or elsewhere. A full 10A charge takes 4.5 hours. The time is shortened to 3 hours with 16A, while a charge in a 6A socket takes 7.5 hours.
The driver chooses the preferred driving mode via buttons on the instrument panel: Pure, Hybrid and Power. In Pure the V60 runs only on its electric motor as much as possible. Hybrid is the default mode when the car is started. The engine and electric motor interact to provide the best balance between required performance and low emissions.
In the EU combined cycle, this car is rated at 53.1 km/l and the range is nearly 1,200 km. Volvo says that fuel cost will be one third of a normal V60. In Power mode, both engine and motor go all out for the best acceleration.
Using the car setup menu, the driver can key in the planned route’s distance (short, medium or long). The control system calculates the balance between diesel and electric power to obtain the lowest possible CO2 emissions for the given distance. The driver can also switch off hybrid functions to save battery juice for later use, a full city route for instance.
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Volvo bring amazing technology and I have full of praises for it. But unfortunately, the brand is dead in Malaysia. Nobody buys it anymore. It has met the same fate as Alfa Romeo, Citroen and Fiat.
That is why parts are super expensive in Malaysia. There is no volume, so parts become super expensive.
Everytime I go to Volvo showroom, I see different salesman. There is never a salesman lasting more than a year there cause pity them, they cannot make any sales.
haha, is true, reselling value and maintenance is damm expensive,
btw, i hear from beemer sales, the subside gov for any hybrid car is this year only? is that true ?
I know a Volvo salesperson that has been and still is dutifully serving his customers in the last 7 years… that I acknowledged.
This wagon is real luvly…. unfortunately our duty structure will kill off any direct imports.
Would you reckon that the wagon has the better drive & handling charactristic than the new S60 T5 or T6… given the high power band of 300hp?
Cheers!
BTW, you guys are doing a marvelous job in this blog. Well Done!
Volvo is an excellent and very good car @
Volvo is built to last a long time with a long service life
Volvo cars are built for
1) quality 2) safety 3) reliability 4) environmental friendly
No many other cars modern technologies even by today standard can match VOLVO expertise and technology.
Many people love to own a Volvo car but their pockets and income does not permit them to buy it easily just like LEXUS. Only the well to do or ‘rich’ or much higher income bracket population can only afford to own a new one nowadays.
Volvo is unlike FIAT or Skoda or Ford , It is still in a lot of buyers mind and heart when they are considering buying a good quality and safety features new car use as a family car . Those with deeper pockets love buying a Volvo more than any japs or korean cars in the market
Please eat back your own words then
somehow the wagon looks better than sedan..
when a car is actually great…….. just the owner change.. but it remain great.
people please dont bring down the fame of a car. continue supporting it, we will see better technology.
i love the fact that this car uses diesel and yet still have great performance with 0-100 km/h in 6.9sec as with with really high hp that u can really enjoy driving it.
what’s more than enjoying that performance yet giving u a great saving of fuel with mere 53.1 km/l ?
please put the price tag aside, just dont deny that this is a superb hybird plug in diesel car.
I tot Peugeot have 1 diesel hybrid show off not long ago..
That one wasn’t a plug-in hybrid
http://paultan.org/2010/10/11/paris-2010-peugeot-3008-hybrid-4-worlds-first-diesel-hybrid/
Diesel hybrids, now that’s what I’m talking about. Makes more sense than petrol hybrids.
Diesel hybrid is great too :].
nice car..
i always like new volvo design..it has soft lines which makes the car looks easy n very comfy..volvo doesnt need to compete with other german marques,they have their own style..that makes volvo for life
I love that last picture, the three buttons are basically their own tagline. Pure hybrid power.
Yeap…diesel hybrid make more sense….Japs wt their petrol hybrid will struggle once diesel hybrid hit the main stream mkt
Now this is a proper hybrid. Petrol hybrid are just not worth it when just diesel can do better. With that mileage i’ll only have to fill up once a month! And it’s still very powerful. :d
Diesel plug-in hybrid is great and the design is great……no more boxy cars as many perceived.
Unfortunately Malaysia’s diesel grade is far too low to be use in these continental cars. Some continental diesel fueled vehicle with Euro IV and V system has to be modified to fit the local diesel fuel (which i heard)…
Haha i still love 850 and S70 wagon. Boxy means more space. :P